Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE FURZE BUSH, by HORACE SMITH Poet's Biography First Line: Let burns and old chaucer unite Last Line: And beneficence learn from the furze! Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Horatio Subject(s): Nature; Poetry & Poets; Praise; Wealth; Riches; Fortunes | ||||||||
LET Burns and old Chaucer unite The praise of the Daisy to sing -- Let Wordsworth of Celandine write, And crown her the Queen of the Spring; The Hyacinth's classical fame Let Milton embalm in his verse; Be mine the glad task to proclaim The Charms of untrumpeted Furze! Of all other bloom when bereft, And Sol wears his wintery screen, Thy sunshining blossoms are left To light up the common and green. O why should they envy the peer His perfume of spices and myrrhs, When the poorest their senses may cheer With incense diffused from the Furze? It is bristled with thorns, I confess; But so is the much-flattered Rose: Is the Sweetbriar lauded the less Because amid prickles it grows? 'Twere to cut off an epigram's point, Or disfurnish a knight of his spurs, If we foolishly wished to disjoint Its arms from the lance-bearing Furze. Ye dabblers in mines, who would clutch The wealth which their bowels enfold; See! Nature, with Midas-like touch, Here turns a whole common to gold; No niggard is she to the poor, But distributes whatever is hers, And the wayfaring beggar is sure Of a tribute of gold from the Furze. Ye worldlings! learn hence to divide Your wealth with the children of want, Nor scorn, in your fortune and pride, To be taught by the commonest plant. If the wisest new wisdom may draw From things humble, as reason avers, We too may receive Heaven's law, And beneficence learn from the Furze! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALL LIFE IN A LIFE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS FOUR POEMS ABOUT JAMAICA: 3. A HAIRPIN TURN ABOVE READING, JAMAICA by WILLIAM MATTHEWS IMAGINE YOURSELF by EVE MERRIAM THE PROPHET by LUCILLE CLIFTON I AM FIFTY-TWO YEARS OLD' by KENNETH REXROTH LAST VISIT TO THE SWIMMING POOL SOVIETS by KENNETH REXROTH PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR AS A YOUNG ANARCHIST by KENNETH REXROTH ADDRESS TO THE MUMMY AT BELZONI'S EXHIBITION by HORACE SMITH |
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